Anthurium `Rotolante Number 2`

ABSTRACT

An Anthurium cultivar of vigorous growth, continuously and profusely producing blooms from red buds and with bright, solid red, very long lasting petals which retain their color as the plant matures. The bloom is very long lasting and exhibits no discoloration until at least four weeks from cutting.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed a new Anthurium plant of the Anthurium andreanumspecies resulting from a definite effort to produce an improvement inthe species.

I discovered my new Anthurium plant by cross breeding the seed of theAnthurium known as `Ruth Morat`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,540, with thepollen of the Anthurium known as `Cultorum Small Red`, unpatented, notpublicly available, in an aseptic sterile laboratory environment in anursery located near Apopka, Fla.

In the nursery, we produce substantial quantities of Anthurium and Ihave crossed certain varieties in an effort to produce new cultivars ofvarying forms, colors and characteristics. The plant of this disclosurewas the result of such effort. This seedling was grown to maturity withsiblings, retained for evaluation and testing and was found to producehighly desirable specimen plants when potted and to produce flowers ingood quantity and suitable character for cutting for the floristindustry. The spathe color of this plant was noted to be of excellentdeep red color in pleasant contrast to the white spadix. Flowers werefound to have exceptional lasting quality whether left to mature on theplant or taken as a cut flower. The strength of the long peduncle withthe sizes, shapes and attitudes of the spathe and spadix make this plantideally suited for the production of cut flowers of the highest quality.

I have caused my new plant to be asexually reproduced by tissue culture,and find that it comes true in successive generations which have beenproduced over time.

As will be understood from a consideration of the drawing, my new planthas some outstanding differences from known varieties. In particular, itis a vigorously growing plant, continuously and profusely producingblooms from red buds and with bright, solid red, very long lastingspathes which retain their color as the plant matures. The bloom is verylong lasting and exhibits no discoloration until at least four weeksfrom cutting.

Thus I have disclosed unique characteristics which present a verydifferent appearance from other Anthurium varieties or cultivars withwhich I am familiar.

Detailed characteristics of my plant are set forth hereinafter and wherecolor is referred to as before and hereafter, The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart is used as a basis for comparison with theillustrations made by photographic process which is as nearly true aspossible to make by such means.

It is particularly difficult to obtain illustrations of the darkercolors displayed, but those shown are as nearly true as can be supplied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing is a close-up of the inflorescence of the plant and showsthe top portions of mature leaves. The strong peduncle, a typical spatheand spadix is depicted in the center of the photographic drawing withthe color; shape and relative sizes and coloration of these parts areillustrated.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Anthuriium andreanum `Ruth Morat` U.S. Plant Pat. No.8,540.

Pollen parent.--Anthurium andreanum. `Cultorum Small Red` unpatented.

Propagation: Plant tissue culture near Apopka, Fla.

Classification: Anthurium andreanum hybrid.

Plant description:

Stem.--Smooth, strong of medium size.

Lenticles.--Not obvious.

Petioles.--18-25 cm. Smooth, color green (143 C).

Leaves.--18-22 cm. long by 8-12 cm. wide, generally lanceloate withbasal potions varying between truncate and obtuse, abundant, smoothtexture and smooth edges, the upper side is smooth and green color (147A), the under side is smooth and green color (147 B), short smoothstipules and ordinary ribs and veins.

Bud.--3-5 cm. long, pointed, red color (53 A); opening well.

Flower.--Type: Spathe and Spadix. Borne singly. Spathe: Cupped uponfirst opening the Spathe then flattens, shiny inside and outside with nopubescence; 3-5 cm. wide by 4-8 cm. long. Form -- Oval and pointed.Color -- Red (53 A) top and bottom. Texture -- Thick and leathery.

Peduncle.--15-25 cm. long by 3-5 mm. wide. Green color (137 B). Smooth,stiff and nested in foliage.

Reproductive organs:

Spadix.--3-6 cm. long by 5-9 mm. wide., color (159 D)

Flowering time.--Continuous, once reaching blooming size which takesseven months from a 10 cm. tissue culture plug, under proper growingconditions.

Disease.--Initial greenhouse trials in Apopka, Fla. indicate goodresistance against traditional diseases.

Insects.--No unusual susceptibility to insects noted to date.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

The plant grows as a bush exhibiting vigorous, compact growth with aheight of 12-15 in. and a spread of 36 in. in a 10 in. pot.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Anthurium plant substantially as hereinshown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by itsvigorous growth, continuously and profusely producing blooms from redbuds and with bright, solid red, very long lasting spathes which retaintheir color as the plant matures.